I had my mental health evaluation today. It was ok. She said she would go over her notes and send the result to my PCM. I answered all the questions honestly. What I want to know is, Can the psychologist stop you from getting the band? They asked me how much I knew about the changes I will have to go through and about the sugery. She asked me about portions, what I can and can't eat. She asked me all kind of stuff. Thank Goodness I found this website because almost everything I learned was from here. I just hope everything goes good. I just have to keep my fingers crossed........ Jennifer

Edited April 30, 200917 yr by talkalot1981
typo

I suppose they technically could stop you if the surgeon decides to take their recommendation and they recommend you not have it. However, I think that the only reason I've heard of denial for is being mentally unstable to handle such a change at the time.

Just being potentially uninformed, they may suggest that you go to a seminar or speak with a dietician to gain more information before you go forward just to make sure you're fully informed with your decision.

My take is that unless you told her litigation is the answer to many of lifes problems you likely will pass.

These people have bills too. They have a staff to pay. They likely have rent to pay on the building they are housed in. They have mortgage payments as well most likely. If they turn away people on a dime, they won't survive as a business. But they do also want to protect themselves against risk. My pshyc eval was a thinny veiled interview to determine the likely hood of a lawsuite should any complications happen.

How many people have follow up pshyc visits after they are banded? I never have. If the purpose was to promote our long term mental health you would think they would be meeting with us AFTER as well as BEFORE, when we are trying to learn the new life habits. Instead, this is done once and up front.

View this as a risk assesment.

Edited April 30, 200917 yr by mlafentres

My take is that unless you told her litigation is the answer to many of lifes problems you likely will pass.

These people have bills too. They have a staff to pay. They likely have rent to pay on the building they are housed in. They have mortgage payments as well most likely. If they turn away people on a dime, they won't survive as a business. But they do also want to protect themselves against risk. My pshyc eval was a thinny veiled interview to determine the likely hood of a lawsuite should any complications happen.

The psychologist I went and saw is a military one. They get paid the same no matter what. She did ask about my younger years with being over weight and talked alot about my mother being over weight also. She did ask me what I expected after the lapband and what I expected from the lapband. I am sure she will give me a glowing review, but the thought of failing is still there. Jennifer

I think ultimately its up to the surgeon.. But the surgeon takes into account that the physcologist is trained to spot mental / emotional issues that might arise after an event or life altering event such as lapband surgery.

Alot of people are like ya so what life altering by losing weight. It's a HUGE emotional journey.. I think almost everyone should have some type of professional help to fall back on for the journey. I wouldn't trade my band for anything but it's not always ups there's downs with it.